How Many Google Machines, Really?

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How Many Google Machines, Really?

Posted by timothy on Sunday May 2, 2004 @05:02AM from the measured-by-weight-not-by-volume dept.

BoneThugND writes "I found this article on TNL.NET. It takes information from the S-1 Filing to reverse engineer how many machines Google has (hint: a lot more than 10,000). 'According to calculations by the IEE, in a paper about the Google cluster, a rack with 88 dual-CPU machines used to cost about $278,000. If you divide the $250 million figure from the S-1 filing by $278,000, you end up with a bit over 899 racks. Assuming that each rack holds 88 machines, you end up with 79,000 machines.'" An anonymous source claims over 100,000.

14 of 476 comments (clear)

Google, will you marry me? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-02 05:05 · Score: 5, Funny

1) google is so pretty and smart
2) google is worth so much money
3) google has a huge rack!!
1. Re:Google, will you marry me? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-02 05:19 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  whoops, forgot to sign the letter!
  
  Love,
  Yahoo.
At $699 per CPU by earthforce_1 · 2004-05-02 05:06 · Score: 5, Funny

SCO now knows how big an invoice to send Google! :-D

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My rights don't need management.
All that power by Chucklz · 2004-05-02 05:09 · Score: 5, Funny

With all those TFlops, no wonder Google converts units so quickly.
Really? by irikar · 2004-05-02 05:10 · Score: 5, Funny

You mean the PigeonRank(tm) technology is a hoax?
Re:Assumptions? by digitac · 2004-05-02 05:11 · Score: 5, Funny

That's right, they probably got in on the "Buy 899 Get 1 Free" Sale. So in reality they have a nice even 900 racks. Makes much more sense that way.
Re:What is that as a percentage ... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-02 05:14 · Score: 5, Funny

Well, let's count. I have two servers at home and 8 at work. They all run linux. Now, if everyone else in the world joins this thread, we can find out.
Re:Can you imagine by mkavanagh · 2004-05-02 05:20 · Score: 5, Funny

can you imagine a beowulf cluster of karma in soviet russia whoring YOU, you insensitive cliched clod?
Re:Why do we care? by 0xC0FFEE · 2004-05-02 05:23 · Score: 5, Funny

Well, everybody knows that black ink is best for the job and that Linus prefers it.
hardcore by mooosenix · 2004-05-02 05:24 · Score: 5, Funny

After many scientific and time consuming experiments, we have found the number of servers to be.........
42.
Re:Heat by Neil+Blender · 2004-05-02 05:29 · Score: 5, Funny

Google engineer reading your post: OH SHIT!

<sound of door slamming>

<sound of car engine starting>

<sound of tires squeeling away>
Re:15 Megawatts by gspr · 2004-05-02 05:30 · Score: 5, Funny

According to Google herself dried wood contains 15.5 MJ of energy per kg. It seems that Google consumes about 1 kg of wood per second (if they've found a way to utilize 100% of the energy, which they of course have - they're Google, after all), and that the pigeons are just there to use their wings to dry the wood!
We're on to you, Google!
I'm more interested.. by diegomontoya · 2004-05-02 05:32 · Score: 5, Funny

in how they recycle their gigantic heat output...perhaps move data center to the windy city, open up a homeless shelter next door, and put the hot air to good use for once. They might even get a tax break on this.

Better yet, open up a nursery (plant type) next door , build a green house, and piple 25% of the heat to it. Have you guys see the price of trees lately? Google could make a killing with the "recycling" plant.
False advertising. by duckpoopy · 2004-05-02 05:43 · Score: 5, Funny

They better have at least 10^100 machines, or they will be getting a call from my lawyers.

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word.